Water Re-Use in Construction Today Newly Adopted Provisions of the VA Uniform Statewide Building Code(USBC) Presented by: Guy Tomberlin, CBO Code Specialist III Fairfax County DPWES, Land Development Services (LDS)

Overview Water conservation provisions outlined in the 2006 building codes Identified water conservation measures not addressed in the building codes Issues under consideration Potential issues for future changes

How the building codes relates to the overall structure for utilizing water conservation methods How to overcome challenges to promote implementation

Objectives Provide updated building code regulations Discuss the new building code provisions – Benefits – Details of applications AND Identify omissions – Determine what areas to focus on for next code cycle….

Partnerships and w orking together! Health Department Designer/Customer Site Regulation & Enforcement Building Code Regulation & Enforcement (Possibly the Office of the Fire Marshal)

Residential Construction Commercial Construction Plumbing Regulations

Add Section to the IBC to read: Use of Appendix C of the IPC for gray water and rain water recycling systems. In addition to other applicable provisions of the IPC, gray water recycling systems and rain water recycling systems shall comply with the provisions in Appendix C of the IPC. In the use of Appendix C of the IPC for rain water recycling systems, the term rain water shall be substituted for the term gray water. Gray water recycling systems and rain water recycling systems shall be separate systems and shall not be interconnected. International Plumbing Code USBC Technical Amendments Water System

Change Section of the IPC to read: General. Every structure equipped with plumbing fixtures and utilized for human occupancy or habitation shall be provided with a potable supply of water in the amounts and at the pressures specified in this chapter. This shall not prohibit the use of reclaimed water distribution systems installed in accordance with this code and the Virginia Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation (9 VAC ). International Plumbing Code USBC Technical Amendments Water System

Add Section to the IBC to read: Changes to the IPC. The following changes shall be made to the IPC: 1. Change Section of the IPC to read: Connections to drainage system. All plumbing fixtures, drains, appurtenances and appliances used to receive or discharge liquid wastes or sewage shall be directly connected to the sanitary drainage system of the building or premises, in accordance with the requirements of this code. This section shall not be construed to prevent indirect waste systems required by Chapter 8. Exception: Bathtubs, showers, lavatories, clothes washers and laundry trays shall not be required to discharge to the sanitary drainage system where such fixtures discharge to an approved gray water system or rain water system for flushing of water closets and urinals or for subsurface landscape irrigation. International Plumbing Code USBC Technical Amendments Drainage system

Change Section of the IPC to read: General. The design of the water distribution system, including any reclaimed water distribution systems governed by the Virginia Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation (9 VAC ), shall conform to accepted engineering practice. Methods utilized to determine pipe sizes shall be approved. Add an exception to Section of the IPC to read: Exception: Reclaimed water supply systems shall be identified in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation (9 VAC ). Change Section of the IPC to read: Color. The color of the pipe identification shall be discernable and consistent throughout the building. The color purple shall be used to identify rain and gray water distribution systems. International Plumbing Code USBC Technical Amendments Water System

International Residential Code USBC Technical Amendments Water System Add Section R328 Gray Water and Rain Water Recycling Systems. Add Section R328.1 to read: R328.1 Use of Appendix O for gray water and rain water recycling systems. In addition to other applicable provisions of this code, gray water recycling systems and rain water recycling systems shall comply with the provisions in Appendix O. In the use of Appendix O for rain water recycling systems, the term rain water shall be substituted for the term gray water. Gray water recycling systems and rain water recycling systems shall be separate systems and shall not be interconnected.

Change Section P to read: P Connections. Plumbing fixtures, drains and appliances used to receive or discharge liquid wastes or sewage shall be directly connected to the sanitary drainage system of the building or premises, in accordance with the requirements of this code. This section shall not be construed to prevent indirect waste systems. Exception: Bathtubs, showers, lavatories, clothes washers and laundry trays are not required to discharge to the sanitary drainage system where those fixtures discharge to an approved gray water or rain water recycling system. International Residential Code USBC Technical Amendments Drainage system

General use and application of Appendix C of the IPC and Appendix O of the IRC for Rainwater/Gray Water Recycling Systems Limited use for: Water Closets Urinals Subsurface Lawn Irrigation

Collection reservoir Reservoir shall be of approved construction and shall be a closed and air-tight vessel.

Filtration Gray/Rain water entering the reservoir shall pass through an approved filter.

Overflow The overflow shall be indirectly connected to the sanitary drainage system.

Gray/Rain water used for flushing water closets and urinals -Shall meet additional requirements-

Disinfection Shall be accomplished by an approved method.

Makeup water Potable water shall be supplied as a source of makeup water and backflow protection is required.

Coloring of water Recycled water shall be dyed blue or green with food grade vegetable dye before being supplied to fixtures.

Identification Piping and reservoirs shall be identified as nonpotable water. Piping shall be identified in purple.

Systems for Subsurface Irrigation -Shall meet additional requirements-

Reservoirs Sized to limit storage retention to 24 hours - designed for gray water-

Soil percolation test Extensive test procedures

System Location Component placement and extensive absorption system criteria

Backfill and piping material

Items not required for subsurface irrigation systems Make-up water Disinfection Color dye in the water

Whats Next? Smooth implementation! Move towards more comprehensive coverage – VDH Guidelines for Rainwater Reuse – Separate Gray and Rain water provisions – Laundry usage – Equipment usage – Expanded irrigation coverage – ICC Green Code

Guy Tomberlin Code Specialist III DPWES - Land Development Services Government Center Parkway, Suite 630 Fairfax, VA 22035– –324–1611 Questions - Comments?? For a read only version of all the VA Building Codes visit: